Sports Reporter

"We march to the beat of our own drum rather than the beat of other people's drums" ... John Grant. Photo: Getty Images

ARL Commission chairman John Grant believes the organisation has demonstrated in the nine months since its formation the benefits of having an independent body control the game.

While there has been some frustration from outside the game at the length of time for decisions to be made, Grant said the ARLC's only focus was on getting the best outcomes.

''We march to the beat of our own drum rather than the beat of other people's drums because what we're intent on doing is making the right decisions,'' Grant said.

The eight commissioners will meet on Tuesday, with issues such as the shoulder-charge review, State of Origin venues and Origin eligibility on the agenda.

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The appointment of a new chief executive, negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the players, radio rights, New Zealand television rights, new media rights and naming rights are also yet to be resolved.

''They are all in progress, at various stages of completion, and I guess it is fair to say we are not going to be bullied into making decisions before we are ready to make them,'' Grant said.

He said the way the ARLC went about making decisions was far different from the previous NRL board, which was made up of three directors each from News Ltd and the ARL.

''The commissioners are a very testing group of people, they will look at things in a different way because they come to this game with total independence, no legacy, no baggage and no pre-formed views but their own professional expertise,'' Grant said. ''It takes longer but we get a more complete outcome at the end.

''The environment prior to that was [former CEO] David Gallop, from an NRL point of view, having to run anything he wanted to do through a board which met four or five times a year.

''Therefore, what happened was David really had to make the decisions because he had to get on with it. They were decisions that David made with a fairly limited group of stakeholders, probably.

''The states' leagues and the ARL were doing a similar thing but that is not where we wanted to be.''

The commissioners meet once a month, with the next meeting after Tuesday scheduled for December 18.

They also usually get together for dinner the previous evening and on Monday night will receive presentations from Men of League and the NRL's education and welfare committee on how to help players after retirement.

The NRL Club Council has also been established, which comprises representatives of all 16 clubs and the eight commissioners, while individual commissioners head a variety sub-committees.

''I can tell you there are a lot of hours being put in by the commission team for the benefit of this game, and that doesn't include attending games, attending functions, attending launches and all of those things,'' he said.

''What this game wanted and what we have got is a very engaged, very deliberate board of directors and we are all the time getting better outcomes. I can't see how that is bad for the game.''

Meanwhile, the 2013 draw is expected to be released late next week after being delayed by the complexity of announcing a fixed schedule for the first 20 rounds for the first time.

It is understood that Sydney and Brisbane have been guaranteed an Origin match each but the NSW, Queensland and Victorian governments have been asked to bid for the third game each season for the next five years.

St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust has declined to confirm or deny whether the Dragons would bid for returning AFL player Israel Folau.

The 23-year-old wants to play for Parramatta but the Eels will need to shed another player to fit Folau under the salary cap for next season and Fairfax has been told that other clubs are interested.

Dragons coach Steve Price said last week he was keen to add a back-rower and outside back to next season's roster. The club secured Kiwi forward Bronson Harrison on Wednesday.

Asked about Folau, Doust said: ''The Dragons are always interested in exciting, quality players but we feel it is not in the best interests of anyone for me to make specific remarks about external recruitment at this stage.''

Former Maroons halfback Paul Green, who coached Wynnum Manly to the Queensland Cup premiership, will succeed Jason Taylor as coach of the Sydney Roosters under-20s next season.